Appetizers

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My New Favorite Carb

11/19/2009 in Appetizers, Deals + Steals, Where we're Eating by Lindsay | 7 comments

I am addicted to Whole Foods 365 Tandoori Naan. (Indian flatbread)

gjl

It is delicious, cheap (around $3-$5/ package) and versatile.  It makes for great pizza, tasty sandwiches and is perfect for shoveling hummus or spinach artichoke dip – I will admit to using it for salsa, too…  I love the consistency of naan and it’s more filling to me than bread or crackers.  Plus, it looks cool on a plate:

 

naan

Check it out next time you are in Whole Foods.  It is a great accompaniment to any meal!

xx, L

whole-foods-logoWhole Foods Market
77 West Paces Ferry Rd.
Atlanta, GA  30305
404.324.4100
www.wholefoodsmarket.com

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My Last Meal

11/06/2009 in Appetizers, Inman Park, Where we're Eating by Lindsay | 2 comments

People often ask Slick if there is more to life than being really, really, ridiculously good looking.

slick
slick

After careful thought, he will tell them that, yes – there is more to life. It’s called fantasy football.

If I was asked, I would also agree that there is more to life. But, my response has to do with food. You never know what a day holds for you. Not to be Deborah Downer or anything, but I text while I’m driving. I go to the grocery store at night by myself. I jaywalk and I’ve been known to shake my fist at bad drivers.  I consider myself to be a highly responsible person, but frankly, we never know when our time is up. So, if I am going to go sometime, I’d like to leave with a fabulous last meal in my tummy.  That – coupled with questionable self-control and enjoying the social aspects of sharing a great meal with friends – is why I am so into food. The End.

If I got to choose my “last meal” in Atlanta, there is no question that it would be at my favorite restaurant in town – Wisteria. I just love this restaurant, and I didn’t have to think twice about spending my birthday there last year. (Which is quite an honor – if I do say so myself!) See, TADA:

Wisteria - LR Birthday

Wisteria - LR Birthday

 

Wisteria - LR Birthday

Wisteria - LR Birthday

Wisteria is consistently amazing and I frequently recommend it to friends, out-of-towners and business colleagues. My three favorite menu items are the North Atlantic Skate Wing, the Molasses-Rubbed Pork Tenderloin and the Pecan Encrusted Atlantic Salmon. Trust me. They are all to die for.

Inside Wisteria

Inside Wisteria

Aside from a prime location in Inman Park, stellar wait staff, killer entrees and chic decor, my favorite part about Wisteria is their appetizers. I feel confident in saying that their appetizer list is the best in town – by far. It’s rare for me to look at a menu and want everything on it. I have tried everything on Wisteria’s appetizer menu – and trying to decide between a few of their items for any given meal is one of the most stressful decisions I have to make.  

Behold its majesty:

Oysters – cold water, served by the half dozen

Black-Eyed Pea Hummus – with homemade sweet potato chips, olives, and tomatoes

Kobe Beef Carpaccio – with arugula tossed in a horseradish vinaigrette and aged parmesan

Charleston-Style Jumbo Lump Crab Cake – over roasted corn and sweet pepper succotash

Cornmeal Fried Calamari – with sweet and sour apricot sauce and wasabi crème fraiche

Pimento Cheese Deviled Eggs – with pickled okra and spiced pecans

Ahi Tuna and Crispy Flatbread – avocados and fresh micro-greens in a citrus horseradish vinaigrette

Prince Edward Island Mussels – in a charred vine-ripened tomato, white wine and herbed garlic broth

Pigs in a Blanket – house cured pork belly, in pastry, with a spicy apple cider vinegar mustard

Tempura Fried Okra – with a horseradish cream sauce

Seared Sea Scallops -over braised pork belly and radicchio with a bourbon molasses reduction

People, life does not get much better than this!! (Unless you are into fantasy football or are really, really, ridiculously good looking…)

P.S. Don’t forget about these two great Wisteria specials:
1 – Burger Sundays for $10
2 – Mussel Mondays for $15.95- Endless bowl of mussels and a glass of house wine.

Make a reservation ASAP!  Life’s too short not to eat great!

xx, L

Wisteria
471 North Highland Ave.
Atlanta, GA 30307
404.525.3363
www.wisteria-atlanta.com

Wisteria on Urbanspoon

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From Top to Bottom…

09/14/2009 in Appetizers, Midtown, Where we're Eating by Lindsay | 6 comments

…Top Flr has the very best appetizer in Atlanta. 

Please witness for yourselves:

Tuna Tartar @ Top Flr

Tuna Tartar @ Top Flr

(Tuna Tartar @ Top Flr:  tuna tartar, sardinian flat bread, thai miso pesto, avocado and lime aioli.)

I’ve never been to Top Flr and not ordered this appetizer, but on Saturday for Anjali’s bachelorette party (day #2) I had it as my entree and it. was. delightful!  Their tuna is always very fresh, surprisingly filling and pretty to look at – if you can keep it on your plate long enough…

Top Flr is no stranger to Q+DD praise as it’s one of Lauren and my favorites and a perfect location for a hip date or to start off a night on the town.  (Plus it’s super convenient to us – which is critical in dinner planning since we are always running late…JST)  I can honestly say that I’ve tried almost everything on the menu, usually with Lauren as my dinner companion, and the scallops are – hands down – my favorite entree.  They’ve recently revamped the dish and I absolutely love the new citrus-y presentation.  Just look – it’s like edible art!

Scallops @ Top Flr
Scallops @ Top Flr

(Scallops @ Top Flr:  scallops, citrus braised endive, ginger, lemon grass reduction and horseradish celery salad.)

THAT dish is DELISH!
 
Did we mention that we love Top Flr???
 
xx, L
Top Flr
674 Myrtle St.
Atlanta, GA  30308
404.685.3110
www.topflr.com

Top Flr on Urbanspoon

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“Cooking” w/L+L: Insta-party!

08/28/2009 in Appetizers, Entertaining by Lauren | 2 comments

Listen, Martha Stewart I’m not. When I lived in NYC, we used our kitchen for storage (oven rack? More like shoe rack!) The best thing I make is reservations. In other words, I do not cook.

But I looooove to entertain…and unless you want all your cocktail party guests to crash on your couch, you have to serve more than vodka + sodas. Trust.

I’m not one to brag, but I can throw a nice little gathering together in a flash. A trip to Tower Liquor notwithstanding, all you need to make is one stop.

Get a Costco card immediately if you do not have one already. I know it’s dangerously close to being OTP, but trust me, it’s worth the schlep. Here’s what you need:

  1. A tub of Hannah Hummus (or Sabra if you prefer, they have both.) Plain.
  2. Olive Tapenade (same section, in the back refrigerators)
  3. A carton of their gloriously plump and delicious black grapes
  4. A big ‘ol wedge of brie cheese
  5. A carton of Carr’s Table Water crackers (the enormo one at Costco will come with 2 plain, 1 sesame, 1 cracked pepper and 1 garlic + herb. It’s perfect.)
  6. Stacey’s Naked Pita Chips
  7. A big bag of baby carrots

Get all your serving pieces ready, put plain hummus in one bowl and put the olive tapenade over hummus in another bowl. Place your brie and grapes on a wooden cheese plate (I also like to throw down some walnuts but whatevs.) You can even do it up big time and fill a bowl with…wait for it, this is really fancy…Ranch Dressing.

And Voila! You’re the hostess with the mostess! (I will say, though, sometimes when I serve this combo, I like to have one hot app. A really Q+DD one I throw together is just a can of artichoke hearts, 3/4 cup mayo, 3/4 cup grated parm, a dash of garlic powder, a few shakes of Tabasco. Mix it all up and throw it in the oven in a small loaf shaped pyrex at 350 for a half hour. When it comes out, sprinkle the top with paprika so it looks fancier.)

Ok, here’s a new thing. Sweets are usually not in my repertoire, but I learned one last night that I think even I can handle. Sorry for giving away your secret, E, but these Pretzel Turtles were ta die fah, dah-ling. HUGE hit over here.pretzel turtle

Ok, here’s what you need: pecan halves (E says you can use any kind of nut), mini pretzels (E used the square kind, they were presh.) and Rolo chocolate candies.

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350

2. Unwrap your Rolos

3. Do not eat all of your Rolos immediately.

4. Place your pretzels on a baking sheet in one layer, place a Rolo on each pretzel.

rolo baking sheet

5. Bake for 3-5 minutes until the chocolate just begins to melt (candy should be soft, but not totally melted.)

6. Remove from the oven and put them on a cooling rack (with a spatula, y’all.) and squish the Rolo candy with a nut.

7. Let them cool and put them on a fancy dish and you are almost just like Rachel Ray! (without those terrible Henley shirts and heinous belts…)

So now you’re set! Oh, and don’t forget to get the BIG olives for your martinis. There’s nothing DK + I hate worse than a teeny olive.

NOW you’re all set.

xx, L

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Cooking w/ L+L – Famous Rotel Queso Dip

07/27/2009 in Appetizers, Entertaining, What we're Cooking by Lindsay | 3 comments

They say that the quickest way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.  Slick will tell you that it’s actually through his rib cage, but he’d prefer you consider the stomach route first…
 
Last night, I made a big taco dinner for him and a few of my girlfriends.  As usual, my Famous Rotel Queso Dip was the show-stealer. 
 
Here’s the Q+DD on my incredibly simple Tex-Mex gift from G-d:
 
Ingredients:
 
- 1 lb. pasteurized processed cheese (Velveeta) cut into 1″ cubes
- 1 can (10 oz.) diced Rotel tomatoes/ green chilies
 
Directions:
 
1) Combine ingredients in a microwave-safe bowl.
 
2) Microwave on HIGH for five minutes.  Stir once at 2.5 minutes.
 
Serve and enjoy!!
rotel_cheese_dip
 
Told you so…
 
xx, L

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